Dorothy Valerie "Dee Dee" HAMILTON
Obituary

Dorothy "Dee Dee" H. Cesan (née Hamilton) died peacefully at home in Feeding Hills, MA on Tuesday January 6, 2015 at the age of 89. Dee Dee is survived by her husband, David T. Cesan; her daughter, Cynthia Pliska and her husband Clifford of Feeding Hills, and their four children -- Dawn Johnson and her husband, Christopher, of Sparta, NJ; Heather Germain and her husband Shawn of Springfield, MA; James Pliska of East Longmeadow; and Sarah Pliska also of East Longmeadow. She also leaves behind four great-grandchildren -- Ryan and Logan Johnson of Sparta, NJ and Mason and Harper Germain of Springfield. In addition, she leaves David’s children; David W. Cesan and his wife Chrissy of Hampden, MA, Donna Cesan and her husband, Nat Karns of Lanesboro, MA; Barry Cesan of W. Springfield, Irene Cesan of New Mexico, William Cesan and his wife Xinger of California; and James Cesan of Vermont. She also leaves behind 12 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She also leaves her loving caregiver and dear friend, Christina Tessier. Dee Dee was born on September 27, 1925 in Suffield, CT to Howard and Valerie Hamilton and grew up on a farm on Halladay Avenue. She graduated from Suffield High in 1943. During the 1950’s she was a Breck Model and traveled to many shows with John H. Breck. She married Walter A. Bates in 1948 where she lived in Longmeadow until 1978. Following Walter’s death she married David "Ted" Cesan, her high-school sweetheart, and a Lieutenant on the Agawam Fire Department in 1978. From her senior year in high school to the day she retired in 1982, Dee Dee was active in banking. She began working for The First National Bank of Suffield and then worked for Valley Bank and Trust Co., which changed to BayBank. Along with the position of branch manager, she also became Assistant Treasurer for BayBank. During the 1970’s and 1980’s, she was recognized as one of Western Massachusetts’ Prominent Women in Business and Banking, receiving several awards. After her retirement, she and Ted devoted their time to each other and enjoyed their interests in farming, antique tractors, traveling – even to Dearborn, MI in their 1929 model A pickup, and enjoying her cottage in Mystic, CT. While at home she enjoyed gardening and took pride in her beautiful flowering plants. Calling hours will be 3:00 – 6:00 PM, Friday, January 9, 2015 at the Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home in Agawam. A funeral is scheduled for Saturday, January 10 at 11:00 AM at the funeral home. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Dee Dee’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Mercy Hospice at Hillside at Providence-DePaul Center, 2112 Riverdale Street, Suite 3, W. Springfield, MA 01089



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